boston celtics vs knicks match player stats
Four games. Four chances for two proud franchises to remind each other who owns the Eastern Conference.
When the 2025-26 regular season wrapped up, the New York Knicks walked away with a 3-1 series advantage over the Boston Celtics — a result that felt meaningful given where both teams ended up by June. New York is currently playing in the NBA Finals. Boston got bounced in Round 1 by Philadelphia.
The numbers from their four regular-season clashes help explain that gap.
Season Series Summary: Four Games, One Clear Winner
New York controlled this matchup from the opening game in October through the finale at Madison Square Garden in April. The Knicks protected home court twice at MSG, and added a road victory in Boston that stung the Celtics particularly hard.
| # | Date | Arena | Winner | Score | Margin |
| 1 | Oct 24, 2025 | Madison Square Garden | New York | 105–95 | +10 |
| 2 | Dec 2, 2025 | TD Garden | Boston | 123–117 | +6 |
| 3 | Feb 8, 2026 | TD Garden | New York | 111–89 | +22 |
| 4 | Apr 9, 2026 | Madison Square Garden | New York | 112–106 | +6 |
The February trip to TD Garden was New York’s most dominant showing — a 22-point road victory that silenced a Boston crowd and raised real questions about the Celtics’ ability to guard elite half-court offenses. The April game was closer on paper, though New York’s control in the fourth quarter told a different story than the final margin suggests.
Deep Dive: April 9 Game at Madison Square Garden
The final regular-season meeting between these teams ended 112–106 in favor of New York. What made this game revealing wasn’t just the outcome — it was how the Knicks got there.
Boston won the first quarter 29–26 and kept it competitive into the third, even winning that period 30–27. But New York’s fourth quarter was decisive: they outscored the Celtics 31–23 in the final 12 minutes, converting key defensive stops into transition opportunities and executing late-clock possessions with poise.
Quarter-by-quarter scoring:
| Period | Knicks | Celtics |
| Q1 | 26 | 29 |
| Q2 | 28 | 24 |
| Q3 | 27 | 30 |
| Q4 | 31 | 23 |
| Final | 112 | 106 |
New York Knicks — April 9 Individual Stats
Jalen Brunson — 25 Points, 10 Assists
Brunson ran the game exactly the way New York needed him to. He scored 25 points on 10-of-19 shooting while orchestrating 10 assists against a single turnover — a 10:1 ratio that speaks to how cleanly he handled Boston’s defensive pressure.
He attacked the paint relentlessly: 12 of his 25 points came from inside the arc at the basket level, and 8 of his 12 two-point attempts fell through. His three-point shooting was off (2-of-7), but it barely mattered given how much damage he caused closer to the rim.
Karl-Anthony Towns — 16 Points, 12 Rebounds
Towns quietly anchored everything New York did on both ends. His double-double included 10 defensive rebounds that personally ended multiple Celtics offensive sequences. He shot 50% from the field, drained 2-of-4 threes, and converted all three of his free-throw attempts. His defensive rating of 108.2 for the game was outstanding by center standards.
Josh Hart — 26 Points, 10-of-15 Shooting
Hart was the night’s surprise standout. He made 10 of 15 field goal attempts, including a remarkable 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, finishing with 26 points and an 83.3% effective field goal percentage. That kind of shooting efficiency across a full NBA game is genuinely rare, and Boston had no workable answer for his movement off the ball.
Mikal Bridges — 10 Points, 6 Assists, Perfect Shooting
Four attempts. Four makes. Two threes. Bridges posted a +17 plus/minus — highest on either team — while contributing 6 assists and zero turnovers. His shot selection was flawless: he took only what was freely available and converted every opportunity.
OG Anunoby — 13 Points, 4 Rebounds
Anunoby supplied 13 points on 40% shooting (4-of-10) with 3 threes, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. His defensive activity created live-ball turnovers that contributed to 14 New York points off Celtics mistakes on the night.
Mitchell Robinson — 7 Points, 7 Rebounds, 3 Steals (Bench)
Robinson’s 22 minutes off the bench were physical and productive. He grabbed 7 boards (2 offensive), scored 7 points at a 75% clip, and recorded 3 steals while drawing 4 fouls from opposing players.
Complete Knicks Box Score — April 9, 2026
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | FG% | 3P% | +/- |
| Jalen Brunson | 36 | 25 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 52.6 | 28.6 | +8 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 33 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 50.0 | 25.0 | +5 |
| Josh Hart | 34 | 26 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 66.7 | 71.4 | +6 |
| Mikal Bridges | 30 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 100.0 | 100.0 | +17 |
| OG Anunoby | 31 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 40.0 | 42.9 | +3 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 22 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 75.0 | — | -2 |
| Miles McBride | 18 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 20.0 | 25.0 | -2 |
| Landry Shamet | 16 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 25.0 | 33.3 | -9 |
Team Totals: 112 PTS | 53.8% FG | 42.9% 3PT | 73.3% FT | 30 REB | 29 AST | 7 TO
Boston Celtics — April 9 Individual Stats
Jayson Tatum — 24 Points, 13 Rebounds, 8 Assists
Tatum’s stat line looks impressive until you see how he got there. He shot 7-of-22 from the field and managed just 2-of-10 from three, finishing at 31.8% overall — well below his season average. He saved his scoring total by drawing 10 free-throw attempts and converting 8 of them. His 6 turnovers against 8 assists reflected the strain New York’s defense placed on his decision-making. The -16 plus/minus was the worst mark of the entire game for any player on either roster.
Payton Pritchard — 23 Points, 6 Assists (Bench)
The most consistent Celtic on the night came off the bench. Pritchard scored 23 points on 50% shooting, added 6 assists against 2 turnovers, and showed more attacking intent than most of the starting unit. His +4 plus/minus was Boston’s best individual mark.
Baylor Scheierman — 20 Points, 7-of-8 Shooting (Bench)
Scheierman’s efficiency was almost absurd: 7 made field goals on 8 attempts, including 6-of-7 from three-point range, totaling 20 points. He spent 15 minutes on the floor and was nearly perfect while he was out there.
Nikola Vucevic — 10 Points, 5 Rebounds
Vucevic gave the starting center role adequate production — 10 points on 57.1% shooting, two threes made on four tries, and 5 boards in reasonable minutes.
Neemias Queta — 10 Points, 10 Rebounds (Bench)
Queta posted a double-double off the bench (10 points, 10 rebounds including 6 offensive boards) and contributed 2 steals. His offensive rebounding — 31.3% offensive rebound rate — gave Boston legitimate second-chance opportunities, though they converted only half of those into points.
Derrick White — 8 Points, Cold Shooting Night
White went 2-of-10 from the field and 0-of-6 from three, salvaging 8 points only by converting all 4 of his free-throw attempts. His defensive effort remained present (1 steal, active positioning), but the offensive output was far below his standard.
Complete Celtics Box Score — April 9, 2026
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | FG% | 3P% | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jayson Tatum | 38 | 24 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 31.8 | 20.0 | -16 |
| Payton Pritchard | 33 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 50.0 | 37.5 | +4 |
| Baylor Scheierman | 15 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 87.5 | 85.7 | -1 |
| Neemias Queta | 26 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 66.7 | — | -7 |
| Derrick White | 34 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 20.0 | 0.0 | -3 |
| Nikola Vucevic | 24 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 57.1 | 50.0 | +1 |
| Sam Hauser | 22 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 28.6 | 33.3 | +1 |
| Jordan Walsh | 18 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 50.0 | 50.0 | -9 |
Team Totals: 106 PTS | 45.2% FG | 37.2% 3PT | 87.5% FT | 42 REB | 23 AST | 11 TO
Head-to-Head Team Stats: April 9 Comparison
| Category | New York | Boston |
| Total Points | 112 | 106 |
| Field Goal % | 53.8% | 45.2% |
| Three-Point % | 42.9% | 37.2% |
| Free Throw % | 73.3% | 87.5% |
| Total Rebounds | 42 | 48 |
| Assists | 29 | 23 |
| Turnovers | 7 | 11 |
| Points in Paint | 46 | 32 |
| Bench Scoring | 22 | 53 |
| Offensive Rating | 126.4 | 119.0 |
| Effective FG% | 63.1% | 54.8% |
| Pts Off Turnovers | 14 | 8 |
One number deserves particular attention: Boston’s bench outscored New York’s reserves 53–22. Under normal circumstances that kind of reserve production wins games. Here it wasn’t enough, because New York’s starting group — Brunson, Towns, Hart, Bridges, and Anunoby — simply outplayed their Boston counterparts when the game was in the balance.
The Celtics also collected 6 more total rebounds than the Knicks. They still lost. That tells you everything about how New York generated offense in other ways — through turnover conversions (14 points), paint dominance (46–32), and ball movement that produced 6 more assists than Boston managed.
Three Reasons New York Took the Series 3-1
Inside scoring advantage. Across four games, the Knicks consistently won the battle at the basket. In the April finale alone, they put up 46 paint points to Boston’s 32. Boston’s defense is built to contest perimeter shots; the Knicks attacked a level deeper and found far more success.
Taking care of the ball. New York averaged 11.8 turnovers per game in the series; Boston gave it away 13.5 times per game. That difference translated into easy transition opportunities for the Knicks and meant Boston’s defense was constantly being placed in difficult situations off live-ball mistakes.
Fourth-quarter finishing. New York closed out every game they won in the final period. In the April finale they scored 31 fourth-quarter points to Boston’s 23. When leads tightened, the Knicks found ways to extend them rather than protect them.
Where Both Teams Landed in 2026
The postseason context matters here. The Knicks finished the regular season with 53 wins, then eliminated Atlanta in six games in Round 1, swept Philadelphia in the second round, and swept Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals. As of June 2026 they hold a 2-0 lead against San Antonio in the NBA Finals.
Boston ended the regular season at 56–26 as the East’s second seed. They won Game 1 against Philadelphia before the 76ers rallied to eliminate them in seven games — a first-round exit that surprised most of the league.
The regular season series result against the Knicks, viewed through that lens, was less a coincidence and more an early signal.
Historical Record Between These Franchises
Boston leads the all-time regular-season head-to-head with 309 victories against New York’s 191. In postseason play, the Knicks hold a narrow 8–7 edge in series victories across 15 playoff matchups. The rivalry dates to the 1946–47 NBA season, making it one of the longest-running in the sport.
Recent seasons, however, tell a different story than the all-time ledger. New York has won the last two regular-season series against Boston, and their current Finals run underscores just how dramatically the competitive balance has shifted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who had the best individual game in the April 9, 2026 Celtics-Knicks matchup?
Josh Hart’s 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting (including 5-of-7 from three) and an 83.3% effective field goal percentage made him the game’s most efficient performer. Jalen Brunson’s 25-point, 10-assist, 1-turnover line was arguably more impactful given his playmaking role.
Why did Boston lose despite outrebounding and outscoring New York off the bench?
New York’s starters outplayed Boston’s starters by a wide margin, and the Knicks turned the ball over just 7 times to Boston’s 11. That converted into 14 points off turnovers for New York against only 8 for Boston — a 6-point swing that proved decisive in a 6-point game.
How did Jayson Tatum perform in the 2025-26 season series against the Knicks?
In the April 9 finale, Tatum posted 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists but shot 31.8% from the field with 6 turnovers and a -16 plus/minus. His best series performance came in Boston’s lone win on December 2, 2025.
Did the Knicks and Celtics meet in the 2026 playoffs?
No. Philadelphia eliminated Boston in the first round in seven games. New York went on to reach the NBA Finals, where they currently lead San Antonio 2-0.
What was New York’s biggest statistical advantage in the series?
Paint scoring and turnover differential. The Knicks scored 46 inside points to Boston’s 32 in the finale and generated 14 points off 11 Celtics turnovers. Ball movement was also sharper — New York averaged 6 more assists per game across the four contests.
Who leads the all-time regular-season series between these franchises?
Boston leads 309–191 across 500 regular-season matchups. In playoff history, New York holds an 8–7 series edge over 15 postseason meetings.
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